This week I introduced the structure of a formal analytical paragraph to my English 9 students. I both enjoy and dread this moment in the year--it means, on the one hand, that my students are starting to think more analytically about texts and are ready for the next step. On the other hand, it also means that I get treated to a room full of fish eyes and wringing hands as they try to wrap their minds around what I'm looking for.

So I typed up a page of tips and best practices to help them over the weekend as they prepare to write their first passage analysis on Monday. I intended to post it in my daily Schoology update today. And then I had a revelation.

They won't read it.

Don't get me wrong--they are not complacent or uninterested, quite the contrary. But in this age of Netflix and Snapchat, a page full of words is unlikely to keep their attention for long.

So I sat there, staring at my lovely one-page document on my computer, wondering what else I could do. And then it hit me. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So how much would an infographic be worth?

No time like the present to try. I popped up Piktochart, chose a free template, and went to work. Yes, it took a bit longer than just typing up the tips. But let's hope the end result will be more likely to get the message across.